The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-02-12
THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT FISHER, N. C..


New DIRK Regiment might he at utter
est to your readers, as showing some OF
General Buffers freaks of war.
Yours, w. b.
We were camped at Bermuda Hun
dred, Va, on the eth OF December, 1861.
marching order and marched all day in
an opposite direction from what We were
to 90, then back the ut Al day II the land
ing. ona of Gen. Butlers strategic move
ments. On the 9 h We WIRE in the midst
of a vast fleet OF transports and naval
vessels in Hampton toa l.. 4 brilliant
sight it MAS to see Ihs large fleet, the
most powerful i'll weight aud equipment
ever sent to operate against Notifications.
Here we laid until the 18th vi December
and then the Il ships, which carried
troops, moved early in the morning and
turned north and befur" noon were op-
pos,te Acquia creek on tue Potomac, an
other one OF Buffers pieces of strategy.
The next morning we SAILED south and
at three CLOCK were in the vicinity of
the block adlug +, ct off Whining ton. 1t
was beautiful day, the air soft as May.
Here we lay for live days, crowded on
board of these boats with plenty of t1eas
and body lice. Way we did not land no
body knows, but suppose it more STRAIT
egg. On the 20,h of De cember there
came up terrible storm and the fleet
sailed to Beaufort Harbor, but some did
not get in, and had To put To sea and a
terrible night it was aud the next day
at noon We were together again III front
of the fort. Here we We're anchored out
of reach of the euemys guns, and then
the battle commenced, the fleet forming
in circle and three monitors moving up
close to the fort. TnIs WAS handsome
sight as they passed around in circle
giving them one broad side, then another
from the stern then another, passing
over the boats in front of them then an
other from the bow and by Watching the
smoke from the monitors we would oc-
casionally see gun sent headlong from
it's carriage. This was kept up all night
and the next day until noon, then the
we landed above the f rt. Here we
formed in a line across the point and
staid until the next day, when Ne made
an advance on the tort. But AS soon as
a few shots were exchanged, we were
called back, and put on board the boats
again and started north and landed in
Virginia. What this was done Tor we
did not know, but called it more strategy.
But it seems the men at Washlngt ton did
not like it as all officers in command were
very much dissatisfied, and on January
the 18th, 1866 we were sent back under
command of Gen. Terry. He said he
would take it or die III the attempt, and
the navy firing on the fort. o. the 18Th
we were formed in the line of battle,
with the 18th Indiana on our right and
next liz n. y, {my regimen') aud next
large company of sailors wnIch formed
a line across the point. Our Colonel
passed along the line and gave the orders
as we went forward. La the charge we
were to move to the right ami go to the
right of the fort, while the sailors
charged on the corner next to the beach.
We had hardly started W hen 4 ball struck
him in the abdomen aud he WAS borne
from the field to fight no more the 13. h
Indiana gained the tort first, it having
of us was marsh where some of orr
men were mired and became IA mark for
their sharpshooters, At this corner of
the fort, was gateway. Here were two
Howitzers. These we captured before
they seemed to know what was going
on. Here we = iihed fnothold III the
charged there was ii terrible scene
of slaughter. The enemy seeming to
center on them they were driven back.
The fort was built of sand, Is it. high,
it was divided by Is mounds built higher
than the fort i'll each of these were
one to tw, guns Under these were UNI
retreat at their will. Two lines of tor
pedoes were planted around the fort. A
shell from the boat had cut the main
wire, that was to explode them. II it
had not, do not think | should have
penned this to you.
Tho three first enclosures we took in
the fourth we met with terrible resist
ance. One Of the most terrible series of
hand-to hand conflicts ever known III the
annals OF warfare now commenced, which
ended with the surrender of the fort.
Small PORTIONS of each of Ames' divi-
sion were now in the fort. Col. Penny
packer, of the ID brldgade, and Col.
Bell, of the 81 brigade. fell. Gen. Curtis,
of the Isl brigade, was struck III one eye
by piece of shell that put 1t out. Gen.
Ames staid there amongst the fragment
Vi his ulSlSlOIi. he directed personally
all operations. Inside the fort We were
all mixed up, men of all regiments and
brigades but were determined To have it
when we had got this hold, We had
charged aud taken nine OF these enco.
sures uutll nine O'Clock, SIX hours of
hand to hand struggle. Then General
4 .,
structions, and he sent word that he
would have Abbot's brigade TO charge in
front while We we've 10 rene " our charge
ON the fort. In halt an hour the assault
was resumed and immediately wnite flags
were seen from the eastern part OF the
fort and the euemy seen runnlng toward
thom, aud received their surrender. The
glory of the assault anu capture of the
fort belong to tue iaIInfu m-u and thcIr
brave commander, Albert Ames. But
it was not won without the cost of life,
the causaltles Of our brig lde mum beriug
269 And SO ended the capture of one OF
the strongest forts OF the rebellion
A Total Eclipse.
OF oIhsr medicines hy Dr. X V. Pierce's
"Gold'n Medical DIsc"very" Is approach
ing. unuvalled III bilious dlsurlers, i'm
pure blood, and consumption, which |.
scrotulous disease ut the lungs.
Terrible Railroad Disa.ter III Vermont.
4 a..